Patents by Inventor Daniel D. Gress, Jr.

Daniel D. Gress, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5856643
    Abstract: An auxiliary switch operator for a circuit breaker operates auxiliary contacts between open and closed positions. The auxiliary switch operator includes a hub which is biased to follow a pole shaft of the circuit breaker and follow the pole shaft when it rotates in a first direction to close separable contacts of the circuit breaker. A first spring mechanism biases the hub to follow the pole shaft when the pole shaft rotates in the first direction. When the pole shaft rotates in the first direction, an arm of the hub engages a rotatable shaft to drive an operating lever and operate the auxiliary contacts to the closed position. When the pole shaft rotates in the second direction, another arm of the hub recharges the first spring mechanism. A second spring mechanism biases the rotatable shaft and the operating lever toward a position corresponding to the open position of the auxiliary contacts when the pole shaft rotates in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel D. Gress, Jr., Daniel E. Palmieri, Robert N. Krevokuch, William Q. Aglietti, Ronald E. Vaill
  • Patent number: 5095293
    Abstract: A visually inspectable indicator for a circuit breaker interrupter apparatus is provided. The visual indicator is located on a portion of the contact wipe assembly of an operating rod assembly of a circuit breaker to provide a reading of relative movement between components of the contact wipe assembly. This reading is related to integrity of the contacts. In a preferred embodiment, the indicator is a T-shaped cut out which is positioned and dimensioned such that it provides a reading relating to compression of the contact spring of the operating rod assembly when the assembly and the circuit breaker contacts are in the closed position which, in turn, provides an indication of the condition of the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Nagar J. Patel, Daniel D. Gress, Jr., Edward J. Klimek